Tuesday, 5 November 2024

Island 522 - Cliff Rock, Guernsey

Cliff Rock is a very small uninhabited tidal island located at the north end of the Baie des Pêqueries off the west coast of Guernsey.  It is separated from the mainland of Guernsey by a gap of about 25 metres, which is covered in small boulders. The island is dominated by a very large rock formation.  The rest of the island is covered with grass.

Rocky outcrop on Cliff Rock

Looking north from Cliff Rock

Looking south from Cliff Rock

Looking west towards Cliff Rock

Saturday, 2 November 2024

Island 521 - Houmet Paradis, Guernsey

Houmet Paradis is an uninhabited tidal island located off the north east coast of Guernsey between Miellette Bay and Petils Bay.   Part of the island has been quarried at some point in the past.  It has also been used for gutting fish and grazing cattle.

In Victor Hugo's novel The Toilers of the Sea, the hero of the book Gilliatt commits suicide at Houmet Paradis by drowning himself.

The island was previously known as Houmet de L’Eperquerie, but the name was changed when it was bought by the Collas family, as their estate was at Paradis.

In 1951 James Watson from Newcastle-upon-Tyne purchased the island for £500.  In 2004 his grandson sold it to an anonymous group of Guernsey islanders, who wanted it to become a nature reserve managed by the National Trust for Guernsey.  Sea birds nest on the island and visitors are requested not to visit the island, apart from the central path, between 1st March and 31st July each year.

Notice with access restrictions during the bird breeding season

Central path with ruined building

Petils Bay from Houmet Paradis

Separate part of Houmet Paradis

Old quarry on Houmet Paradis

Jethou and Herm from Houmet Paradis

Jethou and Herm from Houmet Paradis